Ann Arbor, Michigan - On Sunday, May 17, 2026, Patricia Anne Dowker passed away in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the age of 74. Patricia was born on December 3, 1951 in Lansing, Michigan to William Richard Thomas and Dorothy Eileen Thomas, née Homan. She was raised in Traverse City, Michigan, a town she loved throughout her life and returned to whenever she could.

Patricia graduated from Traverse City Senior High School in 1970 and continued her education at Western Michigan University, graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Special Education for the Emotionally Impaired and minoring in Family Life Education. She later studied learning disabilities at Eastern Michigan University from 1981 to 1984 and went on to obtain a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan in 2007.

Patricia devoted much of her professional life to education and student support. She worked as a resource teacher in Flint, Michigan from 1978 to 1980, and as a teacher consultant in the special education department at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan from 1980 to 1987. She briefly served as Head of Discipline at Bethany Hills School in Bethany, Ontario from 1987 to 1988 before returning to Michigan, where she worked at Willow Run School in Ypsilanti and later resumed her work in special education at the Lenawee Intermediate School District in Adrian from 1992 to 2001. After earning her Master of Social Work, Patricia returned to work as a school social worker, drawing on her years of experience and graduate training to serving her students and their families.

Patricia was also the Pioneer High School cheerleading coach from 1983 to 1987 and coached at the University of Michigan in the late 80s. She helped organize the Arborough Games from 1986 to 1989. As a teacher and coach she had high expectations for her students and athletes but was also their fierce advocate. Her colleagues knew her as helpful, collaborative, responsible, creative, compassionate, hardworking, and organized. In her work she was described as a conscientious and competent professional.

Beyond her professional life, Patricia enjoyed exploring lighthouses, musical theater, cooking homemade meals, watching Olympic figure skating, and closely following politics. She loved northern Michigan and always held a special affection for Traverse City.

Above all, she was a loving mother to her son, Stephen, of whom she was tremendously proud.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, William Richard Thomas and Dorothy Eileen Thomas, and by her former husband John "Garrett" Dowker. She is survived by her and Garrett's son, Stephen Ross Dowker, her step-son, Jonathan Dowker, her brothers, Scott Wynn Thomas and Randall Welty Thomas, and Garrett's sisters, Dilys (late Jim), Wendy (Nick), Deborah (Bill), and Catherine (Frank).

A memorial service will be held at West Side United Methodist Church, 900 S. 7th St., Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at Allmendinger Park, 655 Pauline Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan. RSVPs and donations to support her son in managing her affairs may be made at https://everloved.com/life-of/patricia-dowker/